NameCensus.

UK surname

Steans

A surname derived from the Old English "stān" meaning stone, possibly referring to someone living near a notable stone or stonework.

In the 1881 census there were 45 people recorded with the Steans surname, ranking it #27,314 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 138, ranked #25,127, up from #27,314 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Melton, Ceredigion and Derby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Steans is 164 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 206.7%.

1881 census count

45

Ranked #27,314

Modern count

138

2016, ranked #25,127

Peak year

2010

164 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Steans had 45 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,314 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016, ranked #25,127.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 85 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Steans surname distribution map

The map shows where the Steans surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Steans surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Steans over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 51 #24,096
1861 historical 84 #23,058
1881 historical 45 #27,314
1891 historical 85 #26,080
1901 historical 79 #25,363
1911 historical 62 #26,622
1997 modern 134 #22,608
1998 modern 141 #22,517
1999 modern 143 #22,521
2000 modern 142 #22,544
2001 modern 137 #22,740
2002 modern 140 #22,876
2003 modern 141 #22,549
2004 modern 148 #22,000
2005 modern 147 #22,057
2006 modern 146 #22,320
2007 modern 140 #23,231
2008 modern 140 #23,511
2009 modern 148 #23,141
2010 modern 164 #22,109
2011 modern 156 #22,690
2012 modern 144 #23,902
2013 modern 148 #23,884
2014 modern 145 #24,395
2015 modern 144 #24,369
2016 modern 138 #25,127

Geography

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Where Steans' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Melton, Ceredigion, Derby and Hinckley and Bosworth. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Melton 005 Melton
2 Melton 004 Melton
3 Ceredigion 007 Ceredigion
4 Derby 012 Derby
5 Hinckley and Bosworth 013 Hinckley and Bosworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Steans

These lists show first names that appear often with the Steans surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Steans

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Steans, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Steans surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Steans household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Steans is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Steans is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Steans falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Steans is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Steans, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Steans

The surname STEANS has its origins in England, with records dating back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "stæn," meaning "stone." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a prominent stone or rocky area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name STEANS can be found in the parish records of Wiltshire, England, in the year 1597. The name appears to have been concentrated in the southern counties of England during this time period, particularly in Wiltshire, Somerset, and Dorset.

In the Domesday Book, a great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, there are no direct mentions of the surname STEANS. However, there are references to place names containing the word "stan" or "stone," which could be related to the origin of the surname.

One notable individual bearing the surname STEANS was Sir Henry Steans (1679-1744), a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Malmesbury in Wiltshire from 1722 to 1727. Another historical figure was John Steans (1748-1821), a surgeon and author from Yorkshire, England, who wrote several medical treatises in the late 18th century.

In the 19th century, William Steans (1812-1889) was a prominent English architect and surveyor, responsible for designing several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas. Additionally, James Steans (1836-1901) was an English cricketer who played for Hampshire County Cricket Club in the latter half of the 19th century.

Moving into the 20th century, Reverend Frederick Steans (1902-1986) was an Anglican priest and author who served as the Rector of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London from 1958 to 1972. He wrote several books on religious topics and was known for his contributions to the Church of England.

While the surname STEANS has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration and migration. However, the historical records and notable individuals mentioned above provide insights into the origin and early development of this surname within the English context.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Steans families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Steans surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Leicestershire leads with 21 Steans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.17x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 21 43.17x
Lancashire 12 2.30x
Lincolnshire 5 7.13x
Sussex 4 5.41x
Hampshire 1 1.11x
Nottinghamshire 1 1.69x
Yorkshire 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Scalford in Leicestershire leads with 7 Steans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7000.00x.

Place Total Index
Scalford 7 7000.00x
Manchester 6 25.62x
Levenshulme 5 925.93x
Stamford St George 5 1562.50x
Saltby 4 10000.00x
Stonesby 4 13333.33x
Broughton Astley 3 2727.27x
Melton Mowbray 3 344.83x
Brighton 2 13.40x
Eastbourne 2 58.82x
Holdenhurst 1 42.37x
Liverpool 1 3.16x
Manningham 1 18.66x
Nottingham St Mary 1 6.54x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Steans surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 5
Elizabeth 2
Emily 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Clara 1
Eliza 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Lavinia 1
Lydia 1
Marcia 1
Maria 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Steans surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Steans households.

FAQ

Steans surname: questions and answers

How common was the Steans surname in 1881?

In 1881, 45 people were recorded with the Steans surname. That placed it at #27,314 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Steans surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016. That gives Steans a modern rank of #25,127.

What does the Steans surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English "stān" meaning stone, possibly referring to someone living near a notable stone or stonework.

What does the Steans map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Steans bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.